About Us
Our Distinctions
World-class roasteries. Consistent excellence in roasting and sourcing, with full traceability and clarity of style. Coffees demonstrate a refined light roast philosophy and terroir-driven taste. To get this recognition the roaster must, besides the other criteria, also operate its own coffee bar where the roaster shows the coffee in context, shows how the coffee should be brewed and served - where the quality can be experienced. These roasteries are worth travelling for.
Outstanding roasteries worth seeking out. These roasters deliver excellent quality and craftsmanship, but that may not meet all the requirements for three stars (e.g., no coffee bar, less consistent over time, or more experimental processing focus). These roasteries are worth going out of your way to experience.
Notable roasteries who may not be globally influential but are reliable and deliver a product of high quality. These are roasteries that are definitely worth experiencing.
Hot and Honorable. Roasteries that, for different reasons, are trending or interesting to try out. Our intention is that these roasteries are eventually evaluated or that they are really honorable roasteries that are not exactly down our alley but worth trying when opportunity is given.
Evaluation
Each roastery is assessed through two pillars, Nordic Style Score and The Taste Panel.
Panel (25% of total score)
The panel consists of a number of coffee professionals, from roasters and café owners to competitors and equipment specialists and a number of real coffee enthusiasts.
Note: If a roaster offers blends or darker roasts, those items do not enter our panel tasting (see below) but do lower the score at the hard variables.
Semi Hard Variables (25% of total score)
- Reputation and recognition
- Visual Identity
- Consistency
- Coffee Bar
Hard Variables (50% of total score)
Our attempt is to make as objective a measure as possible of how closely a roastery works with the Nordic style ideals. The score is based on measurable factors taken from the current offer list and public information:
Single Origin
Share of the lineup that is single origin (not blends). A higher share = a higher score.
Processing Methods
Share of coffees using classic, clean processes (washed, honey and natural) rather than experimental or heavily altered processing. More classic, clean processing = a higher score.
Traceability & Transparency
How precisely origin is identified (farm/mill/producer, varieties, lot separation) and how well producer information is presented. More specific and more information = a higher score. Membership in The Specialty Coffee Transaction Guide is required to get optimal score.
Roasting Approach
Focus is fully on light roasts. By analysing roast level and color as well as how the flavour is clean and not roast derived. More coffee within the light roast Nordic Style spectre = a higher score.
Why
We built this guide because we couldn't find what we were looking for: an easy way to discover roasters who roast the way we like it - Nordic Style.
We're constantly hunting for trustworthy roasters and roasters offering exciting new coffee. After years of searching, testing, comparing, we decided to structure the work and to make the work useful for others too.
What
The guide is not a complete directory of every roastery in a country or city. Instead, it is strictly limited to roasters that appeal to coffee nerds who share our taste in coffee.
The purpose of the guide is twofold:
- We would like to help users find great Nordic style coffee, both reliable everyday options and exciting new coffee to explore.
- A guide to find the best places in the world to taste and enjoy coffee from the finest roasters.
Nordic Style coffee
When we speak of Nordic Style Coffee, we mean a distinct philosophy that emerged in the Nordic countries beginning in the early 2000s, one that reshaped specialty coffee's approach to roasting, brewing, and tasting. It's defined by clarity, transparency, and respect for origin. Rather than masking flavor with roast, Nordic roasters aim to reveal what's already there, the natural sweetness, fruit, and floral notes that make each coffee unique. The guiding principle is simple: terroir over roast.
The Cup
Nordic Style Coffee is roasted light, often far lighter than traditional approaches, to preserve the coffee's true character. The result is a clean, vibrant cup with bright acidity and layered nuance. Common notes include jasmine, bergamot, raspberry, and green apple, flavors that speak of place rather than process.
The Bean
Exceptional green coffee is a must. Roasters work with single-origin coffees, often small lots, chosen for clarity and distinction. Traceability and transparency are non-negotiable; every coffee has a story, and it should be told honestly - from farmer to cup.
The Brew
Brewing is a craft. Nordic coffee culture favors manual brewing methods that allow precision and control. The goal is to extract balance and sweetness, not bitterness, and to let the coffee speak for itself. This brew culture is rooted in the region's love for filter coffee and the daily ritual of fika and hygge - sharing a cup, slowing down, being present.
The Process
The emphasis is on washed coffee: pure, transparent, true to place. We also evaluate honey and natural coffees when they're clean. We don't include infused coffees or any with added flavors.
The Ethos
Behind the flavor lies a set of shared values: openness, sustainability, and responsibility. Nordic roasters have pushed for direct trade, pricing transparency, and long-term relationships with producers - an approach grounded in trust and respect.
The Taste of the North
There's something unmistakably Nordic about this preference for brightness and purity - a cultural echo of the region's love for crisp flavors and clean design. As Scandinavian cuisine seeks freshness and balance, Nordic coffee seeks honesty in taste.
About Us
Our journey began in 2010 in Malmö, Sweden, with the opening of a Coffee bar - Djäkne kaffebar. From day one, we introduced the concept of Coffee of the Week – a rotating selection that allowed us and our customers to explore new and exciting coffees each week. Later we re-branded the bar and named it Nordic Style Coffee where the focus was, you guessed it, Nordic style coffee. Really clean, light and transparent coffee took over completely.
After running the coffee bar for 15 years we entered a new era, wanting to share all the experience we've collected through the years in the business. We wanted to showcase the diversity of coffee and create a deeper experience for those who, like us, love to discover unique flavors. From this Nordic Style Coffee Guide was borned. The team is made up of coffee professionals, entrepreneurs and developers, all sharing the same passion for Nordic style coffee.
Get in Touch
We'd love to hear from you. Whether you have a question about the Nordic Style Coffee Guide, want to suggest a roaster, correct information about your roastery, or simply say hello — send us a message and we'll get back to you soon.
Ps. you can also nominate a roastery on our Discord.
Other contact methods
Email: info@nordicstylecoffeeguide.com
Visiting: Djäknegatan 9, 211 35 Malmö, Sweden